Community-Based Advocacy Internship Job Description
March 1, 2024
Description of Internship:
HAWC’s Community-Based Advocacy team works directly with individuals and families who have experienced partner abuse to identify needs and goals, make appropriate referrals to HAWC and external services and create safety plans based on a client’s unique situation and needs. This internship involves working closely with the Community-Based Advocacy team in our Salem and/or Lynn offices to conduct client intakes, provide referrals and follow-up, and ensure appropriate safety planning for all clients. This intern will also co-facilitate psychoeducational support groups for clients in-person, via Zoom or in a hybrid model.
Field:
This internship is generally a good fit for someone working toward a graduate degree in a social work, criminal justice or related major seeking general experience in working with survivors of partner abuse doing case management and systems navigation work.
Responsibilities:
- Provide assessment, support, crisis intervention, advocacy, information and referral services to survivors of domestic abuse
- Complete intake meetings and follow up sessions with clients
- Maintain a client caseload, providing follow-up contact and services as needed, in partnership with others on the team
- Complete documentation and data entry for each client contact
- Co-facilitate support groups
- Work to foster collaborative relationships with other local agencies and community partners, including participating in meetings, doing outreach and providing direct support to other professionals
- Participate in outreach/tabling events within the local community
- Attend regular supervision, team meetings and all staff meetings
Preferred Skills and Qualifications:
- Willingness to learn and consider different perspectives
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Commitment to promoting equity and inclusion amongst clients, team members and community members
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, utilizing effective communication and organization to ensure appropriate case coverage on days when intern is not available
- Education, training or experience in case management, systems navigation, legal services or counseling is strongly preferred
- Education, training or experience in facilitation of psychoeducational support groups
- Commitment to providing trauma-informed, client empowering support to a diverse population of people who have experienced abuse
- Ability to prioritize and efficiently schedule various work tasks using effective organization strategies
- Willingness to learn agency models of work, working collaboratively with colleagues from various departments to ensure effective client support
- Commitment to learning, developing and practicing effective self-care strategies to manage vicarious trauma
- Basic competency in using internet, GSuite and computer programs, including database entry
- Attention to detail and sensitivity in recording client contact notes
- Bicultural background and/or language skills (Spanish, Portuguese or Haitian Creole especially) are highly valued
Required Time Commitment:
This internship requires a minimum of three days per week of availability to follow up with assigned clients. Hours can be flexible but must be able to accommodate evening support groups approximately three times per month.
This internship requires a full school year commitment for continuity of care for clients.
A thirty hour pre-service training must be completed prior to engagement with clients.
Supervision Available:
The Manager of Community-Based Services generally supervises this position with LCSW qualifications. There is one hour per week of individual supervision and approximately four hours per month of group supervision. If necessary, supervision by an LMHC may also be available.
Compensation:
This is an unpaid internship position.
If interested, please email your resume and cover letter, including your schedule availability for the internship, to the Director of Programs and Community Partnerships, Jillian Nebesar, at JillianN@hawcdv.org